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The 9th edition of the prestigious Scrabble Championship will be held from 27th to 3oth of September 2017 at Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, South-South Nigeria. The tournament will be chaired by His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio (Pillar of Scrabble in Africa) and hosted by the Executive Governor, Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. All players, local and international are invited to participate and enjoy great hospitality and the splendid tourism attractions the beautiful city of Uyo has on offer.

This years tournament will feature five (5) divisions including the Youth category for secondary and primary school students.  The eventual Champion will take home a trophy and the ten thousand US dollar (N4,000,000 or $10,000 ) cash prize. There are also prizes for the top performing ladies/female players. Detailed information on the prize distribution, registration, travel and other details are available here.

Please confirm your rating by clicking here before payment and registration. Rating after WESPAC Qualifiers shall be used for this tournament.

Registration has commenced. Click here to register.

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The 8th edition of the Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classics was concluded on Sunday the 28th September 2014. Current Scrabble World Champion Nigel Richards became the second non-Nigerian to win the coveted prize. He carted home the top prize of twenty thousand US dollars $20,000 after 28 games. He won 21 games with a total spread of +1797 points. Former African Champion Jighere Wellington came second with 19 wins and +807 spread while Olatunde Oduwole came third with 19 wins and +739 spread. Full results and game statistics of the Masters can be found here.

In the Intermediate category Ezinore George came first with 20 wins out of 28 games and a +990 spread followed closely by Evruje James 19 wins +1375 and Etua Larry 19 wins +778 spread in second and third place respectively. For full results in this category click here . The Open category was won by John Aiyedun 20/24 +1626 spread. In 2nd and 3rd place respectively were Adekunle Ayo (17/24 +1413 spread) and Ohwonohwo Rutherford (17/24 +1295 ). The Ladies category had 42 ladies in attendance with 24 games played. The first prize went to Ekaba Dorcas who had 19.5/24 +1948, beating Lawrence Adesola (19/24 +557) and Yeribo Zini (16.5/24 +1400) to the second and third position respectively. In the Veteran category Odulele Rotimi came first with 22/28 +1695, with Barr. Aquaisua Edet coming second with 20/28 +1318 while Majemite Prince came third with 19/28 +1067. Full results: Open Ladies Veterans

Messrs Oduwole,Jihere and Richards at the 8th GAISC

The tournament was attended by over 400 players including elementary school children with the NSF Board members and officials presiding. The opening ceremony was attended by the Akwa Ibom state Commissioner of Health who gave a talk on prevention and control of the current Ebola epidermic in W/Africa. The closing ceremony and banquet was presided over by the State Deputy Governor Valerie Ebe who presented the trophy to the Champion Nigel Richards assisted by commissioner for Sports and the representative of the Minister of Sports Mr Bolaji Ojo-Oba along with NSF president Suleiman Gora and other board members.

The 6th edition of the Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classics was held at the prestigious Le Meridien Ibom Hotels Uyo Akwa Ibom State from the 28th to 30th September 2012. 308 players gathered to play the game of Scrabble at the Nwaniba Hall in an event which has the highest total prize monies in Scrabble worldwide.

Pakorn with Rex final game
Pakorn with Rex in the final game

Mr Pakorn Nemitrmansuk from Thailand, is an architect by profession and a former Scrabble World champion. After 28 games over 3 days, he garnered 21 points +1636 to take home a beautiful plaque and the star prize of $15,000 (fifteen thousand US dollars) at the just concluded Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classics. The event is the 6th edition of the annual yearly Scrabble competition sponsored by His Excellency Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State which extends an invitation to professionals from outside the shores of Nigeria. Mr Pakorn Nemitrmansuk had participated in two previous editions (the 3rd and 4th edition) placing 7th and 5th respectively.  Forty-four (44) Masters players took part in this year's competition including the winner of the last edition, Mr Sammy Okosagah and several professional Scrabble players from Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, UK and the USA. Mr Ogbakpa Rex placed second in the Masters while Paul Sodje finished in the third position.

In the Intermediate category, Mr Idahosa Bright of Edo State edged out 99 other players to place first with 21 points and a margin of +1184. He took home the grand prize of one million naira (N1,000,000) and a beautiful plaque. In Closing ceremonythe 2nd and 3rd position were Quickpen Ben 19.5 +803 and Touyo Wawe 19.5 +622 respectively. Predictably the Open category which had 124 entries was dominated by comeback Scrabble Master Seidu Ayorinde. Out of 24 games, he won 22 and finished with a margin of +2015 to pick the grand prize of N700,000 (seven hundred thousand Naira) in that category. In second place was Ezinore George (18 points +1524) while Ofidi Emmanuel came third with (16.5 points +1542).

The Veteran category created for players over 55 and captains of Industry had 40 (forty) entries. After 28 games, former Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Scrabble Association, Elder Bob Okoridem garnered 20 points  +1654 to place first.  Mr Hakeem Kareem (20 points +1341) and Barr.  Aquaisua Edet (19 points +531) were first and second runners-up respectively.

The top 3 best performing female players were also awarded cash prizes. Mrs Bukunmi Afolayan placed 22nd  after winning 14 games in the overall classification in the Open category but she was adjudged the best performing female player.  Ekaba Dorcas and Adebisi Adekansi were awarded the second and third best female players respectively.

The competition drew players from all the states of the federation including secondary school students of Queen's College Lagos and Master  Salem Emmanuel an 11-year-old student. The chief host and sponsor of the tournament His Excellency Governor Godswill Akpabio supported by Senator Helen Esuene (Chairman of the Occasion) was on hand to host players to a buffet dinner at the beautiful State Banquet Hall. The Governor played a quick game with the winner of the tournament Pakorn Nemitrmansuk and later handed over trophies and cash prizes to winners. All the female participants and foreign players were also given cash by the Governor to offset their transport fare back to their homes. The Governor was presented a customized steel Scrabble board by the Akwa Ibom State Scrabble Association chairman, Umoh Bassey. The next (7th) edition of the Godswill Akpabio Scrabble Classics has been scheduled to hold from the 26th to 29th September 2013 in Uyo.

Photo Gallery

The 6th Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classics will be held in Uyo,  Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria from the 27th to 30th September 2012. The event is sponsored by the executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency Godswill Obot Akpabio and hosted by the good people of  Uyo in the serene and hospitable Akwa Ibom state of Nigeria.  The last edition of the Classics was won by Mr Sammy Okosagah, a Nigerian International Scrabble Master based in the U.K. He took home the sum of $10,000 (ten thousand US dollars) for his efforts. Scrabble players from all over the world are invited to this prestigious event, the highest paying Scrabble event ( in sum total of prize monies across categories) worldwide. The event is in 4 (four) categories (divisions): Masters, Intermediate, Open and Veterans categories.

Event Rules

No of Games: 28 games across all categories Lexicon: Colins Scrabble Words 2012 (CSW12) Rules:  WESPA rules version 2 with a 10pt penalty for moves challenged.

Programme

See details of the event by on the Godswill Akpabio Classics event information page.

You can follow the events happening in Uyo at the Godswill Akpabio International Classics 2011 using the links below.

  1. Tournament Schedule
  2. Opening Ceremony
  3. Players
  4. Results
  5. Recorded Games
  6. Closing

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